small business joy

I found this article so heart-warming that I want to share it with all of you. Thank you for helping us enjoy being a small-scale business that appreciates all our wonderful customers!

Here's our new girl wearing her American-made fleece pullover. She loves being warm!

Conversation Hearts and Dogs

Today we added some adorable conversation hearts design dog collars to our ebay listings. Not only are these an American product, made right here in the USA, they are perfect for Valentine's Day.

 We have these in XS through Large, so don't miss out! Always a favorite Valentine's Day candy, conversation hearts are silly, very sweet, and absolutely unique. A lot like your dog.


It's fun to have seasonal collars for your dog. After all, who wants to wear the same thing day in and day out? And although they are a Valentine's Day tradition, the candy's mawkish, sentimental declarations of love are just what our dogs demonstrate every day of the year.

So give your little sweetie something pretty to wear for February 14th, and any day of the year. And here is a little back story about Conversation Hearts in case you're another Mark Summers fan and love retro candy, too. Also a glimpse of the production line and some history of the company that created these candies back in the 1860s. A great American candy, a fine American-made dog collar, and a lot of fun for any day of the year, our Conversation Hearts dog collars in stock today!

Blanket Burrowing and Dachshunds

We don't know the parentage of our little adopted dog, although shelter workers guessed that she was Chihuahua (eyes) and Dachshund (length). Her coat is short and she seems to get cold easily. I'm really curious about her actual lineage, and this week found at least one positive genetic marker in the Dachshund column.

Remembering that my childhood pet, a Dachsie named Herman, loved to burrow under blankets, I went out and picked up a couple of inexpensive fleece throws (half-price at that), and proceeded to experiment. There are lots of citations on Dachshund sites about the blanket burrowing thing, so it seems to be a commonly observed trait.

When it was time to put the dogs to bed and turn down the heat a bit, I offered to cover up our little dog with a blankie. Well, Bingo! She looked at me with an expression of great appreciation, and proceeded to settle in for a nice warm sleep. Not one to kick off the blankets, or mess up the bedding, it was like tucking a child into bed at night. and has been every night since. Who'd have thought that a few dollars worth of blankets could be useful as a DNA test? I'm convinced we have at least some Dachshund here, sleeping soundly and contentedly in a soft blanket burrow.

Geaux Saints!

Celebrate some NFL history with a Black and Gold #9 jersey for your dog. Drew Brees fans everywhere love this shirt, and you can see why.

Here's video of a pre-game chant led by Brees.

 

These are selling out fast, so pick up your dog's NOLA spirit shirt today, when Drew broke Dan Marino's single season passing record. Your dog will love the attention he gets wearing this jersey to run around the dog park, take a walk in the neighborhood, or enjoy your game day party.

Christmas Wishes to All Our Wonderful Customers

Your sweet innocence and goodness

Your upbeat outlook that always expects the best

Your goofy antics that keep us lighthearted

Your calm dignity that connects us to the eternal truths 

and helps us to transcend the worries of today

Your eager cooperation in our holiday celebrations

Your sharing the outdoor trail of discovery, and helping us to appreciate the beauty in our natural surroundings

Your commitment to our homes and families

and your willingness to dress up for the occasion

Who can put a price on all these gifts our dogs so freely give us?

And even the magical addition to our dog family this fall

of a stray who waited in a shelter so long before 

she became our little girl

Destined to bring companionship to our dogs and ourselves

as she begins to understand that her place is safe and 

secure in our family home.

Precious Hannah,
our new dog and Arlo's special friend. 

Gentle and kind, affectionate and fun,
She loves his madcap personality!
(Here hamming it up as an ear of corn.)

 
What gifts our dogs give us everyday by their presence!
Our own connections to one another, through them, are precious friendships
and bonds that we value and cherish.

Thank you for being our customers and friends! Please give your precious pets
a hearty Christmas hug from all of us here at Dog City Dime Store.

Go Blue and Roll Tide

One of my favorite categories of dog supplies is sports team gear. Whether it's a Buckeye or Tiger, Aggie or Dawg, our football fan customers are enthusiastic and friendly.

That's why we stock team logo collars, leashes, sweaters, and even though it's way past Halloween season, Tiger costumes.

You know that a dog's idea of fun would be to indulge in some of that game day party food and see who's running with the ball. Our own dogs love to zip around the house, zigzagging like quarterbacks to keep the ball away from each other. No fetching for this crew They like to take off and be chased, block, and intercept when they see an opportunity. Coachless, but not without talent.

I'm sure that dogs love their football fan families, who cook and share great eats, love a fast-moving ball game, and shout out cryptic slogans like Roll Tide! 

In spite of the grim economy, negative news stories, and cold, dark days of fall, dogs, like football fans, know how to have a great time. As we say up here in the Pacific Northwest, Go Dawgs!

Top Dog Model

I think we've found the next dog fashion world top model. Of course she has great bone structure and a toned body. But there's that kind of  "I could clean your clock with one punch," and "I make more money in one shoot than you do in a year" attitude in her slightly indulgent expression that gives luxury brands their cachet

Meet Darla!
Here she is, modeling a football team jersey the way it's meant to be worn.

Notice how her gaze extends far beyond beyond the camera, and she has artistically arranged her legs in an unassuming, casual dominance. We see that Darla is a New England Patriots fan, with the natural talent of her favorite quarterback, #12.

Here she is, in a more pensive mood, as if reliving the twists and turns of last weekend's game. (Can you spell mistakes?) Her range of expressions offers a designer unlimited opportunities to showcase quality clothing. The effortlessly displayed sleeve borders say so much about this jersey's soft, comfortable wearability. Darla's set jowls say everything that needs to be said about her fierce loyalty to the team.

With a slightly quizzical expression and a subtle shift in mood, Darla could be wondering if it might not be time for a small slice of smoked chicken, or a bit of salami from the game day party tray. We say she's earned it.

Way to go top model! Thank you for sharing some fabulous dog fashion with the world.